Tag Archives: Lucille Richard

Circa 1954 Canadiens’ players, wives and girlfriends get together at Butch Bouchard’s Cabaret to enjoy some pops and chuckles.

Bouchard (in glasses), Maurice and Lucille Richard, Ken Mosdell, Doug Harvey, Elmer Lach and the rest of this happy bunch let off some steam during those glorious days when the Habs were close to embarking on five straight Stanley Cups.

Harvey’s in the forefront at the head of the table, and just behind Bouchard and to Elmer Lach’s left is Gerry McNeil with wife Theresa.

At the back, being served by the waiter, appears to be Bernie Geoffrion (with Marlene), and Ken Mosdell is directly across from Boomer.

Of course Carey Price is playing much better. He’s married now. That’s what often happens.

Josh Gorges scored a goal in Vancouver. He got married this summer too.

Women are amazing and mysterious creatures. They turn four walls into a home just by adding a couple of flowers and a table. They help struggling hockey-playing husbands find their game. They open up the fridge door, pull out a carrot and a jar of relish, and half an hour later there’s a gourmet meal sitting there.

Unless your wife’s a lousy cook of course. In that case, disregard the last sentence.

Habs wives need to be happy and comfortable. If the Canadiens have the happiest wives and girlfriends, the team wins the Stanley Cup. That’s how it works and in my next life when I’m smart I’ll go to university and do a thesis on this very subject.

Look at the picture below. That’s Ken Mosdell, Boom Boom Geoffrion, and the Rocket, happy as can be with their really happy wives. Except for maybe Boomer. What’s wrong, Boomer? (Maybe they told him to stop singing).

It might be my favourite hockey picture and it doesn’t even have players in it. No action around the crease, no big goal or big save, no packed building full of screaming fans.

It’s simply a bunch of Habs wives getting together in the 1950s at Maurice and Lucille Richard’s house in Montreal to watch their men skate and shoot. I wish I could name these ladies, but all I can do is point out Lucille Richard, in the white blouse, third from right. And there were more than the six ladies, as you can see some lovely legs over on the far left.

The game looks tense. And there’s a reflection of Maurice in the mirror!

The Maurice Richard family. from left – Maurice Jr., Hugette, Lucille, Suzanne on Rocket’s lap, Normand, and Andre on the floor with his teddy bear. This is circa 1958. Two other boys, Paul and Jean, would round out this family.

I’ve read that Maurice Jr. was a fine hockey player, his nickname was “The Little Rocket,” but he became the subject of adults in the stands who gave him grief for not being as good as his dad. Normand was a decent athlete too, but also heard nasty remarks because he happened to be the son of such an icon. For whatever reasons, when it comes to certain adults or other parents in the stands, some can be absolute imbeciles.

Forget for a moment about suspensions and finger-biting and finger-taunting and stretchers during this Stanley Cup final. Think for a bit about hockey wives, those beautiful creatures who keep the kids quiet during game-day naps, who have steaks or pasta ready in the afternoon, who listen as hubby goes on about how the coach doesn’t understand him.

The wives and girlfriends are the ones behind the scenes, playing a role almost as important as a linemate. Although Toe Blake might have disagreed.

These are beautiful Habs wives of one of the late 1950’s powerhouse teams that won five straight Stanley Cups. I”ve shown this picture before but it was smaller the last time and I’ve learned since how to make it bigger.

I love this picture. It was taken in the home of Maurice Richard, with many of the wives and girfriends obviously together to watch a game. Lucille Richard, wife of the Rocket, is in the white blouse, fourth from the left. The game looks tense.

Circa 1954 Canadiens’ players, wives and girlfriends get together at Butch Bouchard’s Cabaret to enjoy some pops and chuckles. Bouchard (in glasses), Maurice and Lucille Richard, Ken Mosdell, Doug Harvey, Elmer Lach and all the rest of this happy bunch let off some steam during those glorious days when the Habs were close to embarking on five straight Stanley Cups.

Just behind Bouchard and to the left of Elmer Lach is Gerry McNeil with wife Theresa. At the back, being served by the waiter, appears to be Bernie Geoffrion (with Marlene).

From the CBC’s archives, a little radio interview with the Rocket’s wife, Lucille. It’s from April 8th, 1957, and she says that in fifteen years, she’s only missed two games at the Forum. Meet Lucille Richard